The Greens plan to increase the Australian aid budget to 0.7% of GNI. The Parliamentary Budget Office has costed this at $7.97 billion over the forward estimates. The Greens will introduce a bill to achieve this in the parliament as soon as it resumes.

One of the most shameful parts of the 2016 budget are the cuts to overseas aid, Greens aid and development spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

“This savage cut, which has driven down Australia’s overseas aid to its lowest level ever, is further proof that Treasurer Scott Morrison cannot be trusted,” Senator Rhiannon said.

“In his first speech in parliament Mr Morrison gave great emphasis to the value of overseas aid. He said 'the need (for aid) is not diminishing, nor can our support. It is the Australian thing to do.'"

On the eve of the 2016 budget the Greens have renewed their call for the Turnbull government to reverse the Abbott era cuts to overseas aid and to restore some common decency and humanity to our overseas aid commitment.

"The overseas aid cuts in the last budget were so extreme. They have brought hardship and possible death to many people in low income countries and they undermine Australia's international standing," Greens overseas aid and development spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

Responding to the devastation Cyclone Winston brought to Fiji, the Greens have called for more humanitarian assistance for Fiji, an overall increase in aid funding and programs to rapidly decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

‘While the $5 million aid package for Fiji announced by the Turnbull government is a start the level of devastation warrants an injection of more aid funds to assist with food packages and emergency supplies that are desperately need,’ Senator Rhiannon said.

Lee speaks on Vision 2020 Australia's efforts in reducing blindness in the Indo-Pacific region, and calls on the Australian government to increase their funding commitments, including to the overall aid budget.

The Greens believe that Australia, as a wealthy nation, has a responsibility to contribute our ‘fair share’ to poverty alleviation in less developed countries and devote 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income to overseas aid.

Australia’s spending on aid should also be transparent and accountable and aid projects should not be harmful for local communities or the environment. The key purpose driving the Australian aid program should be alleviating poverty.